This Johnstown Tribune-Democrat reporter notes that defending NEC softball champion Saint Francis U has won its last four meetings with Big Ten member Penn State on the diamond. In addition to two wins over the Nittany Lions this spring, SFU has also defeated Big Ten member Maryland twice. The Flash, who are 4-1 vs. the Big Ten, have a win over Big XII member Iowa State as well.

Stepping out of Northeast Conference play to face a cross-town rival, Saint Joseph’s scored a top-20 win by edging Ivy League member Penn. The SJU Hawks’ win over the No. 20 ranked team adds to a list of impressive non-conference victories by NEC teams this season. Robert Morris catapulted itself into the National Top 20 earlier this year thanks to victories over Penn State and Marquette, who were ranked 15th and 19th, respectively, at the time of competition.

Two NEC bowlers earned top-eight seeds in the 24-person championship bracket at the USBC Intercollegiate Singles Championships in Lincoln, NE. Following six qualifying rounds, Fairleigh Dickinson freshman Amanda Chrzanowski owned the third-best average while St. Francis Brooklyn senior Emma Catone was fourth on the overall leader board. The two women both suffered defeat in the Round of 16 during championship bracket play. In 2016, FDU alumna Morgan Brown was the national runner-up in this competition.

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Former all-NEC selections Christian Kuntz and Larson Graham, who were last seen in a Duquesne Dukes uniform in November 2016, are chasing their NFL dreams. Kuntz, a two-time NEC Defensive Player of the Year, enjoyed a brief stay with the New England Patriots last summer, but was unable to latch on with a club for the 2017 regular season. Graham, a 6-foot-5 offensive tackle/guard, spent time with the Atlanta Falcons during the 2017 NFL Preseason. The two Dukes will have another chance to crack a NFL 53-man roster after signing free agent deals this spring. Kuntz, a linebacker turned long snapper, is with the Denver Broncos while Graham inked a deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Former Sacred Heart golfer Connor Donnelly, who is enjoying a post-graduate career as an Assistant Director of Athletic Giving at Fairfield University, has wrapped up his tenure as the NEC’s National SAAC representative. Donnelly, a 2016 graduate, was also serving as the NCAA Division I SAAC con-chair. In that role, he acted as a leading student-athlete voice in NCAA Council meetings.